What is a soft credit check and does it affect my credit score?

Full answer

A soft credit check (or soft search) is an enquiry into your credit file that only you can see when you look at your report. Lenders carrying out future searches cannot see it, so it has no effect on your credit score. Soft checks are used for eligibility or quotation tools, pre-approval offers, identity verification, and when you check your own credit report. A hard credit check (hard search) is different. It is recorded on your file as a formal application for credit and is visible to other lenders for around a year (and stays on your report longer). Several hard searches in a short period can make you look like you are seeking a lot of credit, which may slightly lower your score and concern lenders. Why this matters: many comparison sites and lenders now offer eligibility checkers that run a soft search to tell you how likely you are to be accepted, and sometimes your likely rate, without any impact on your score. You only incur a hard search when you proceed to a full application. This lets you shop around for mortgages, loans or credit cards safely. Practical tip: when rate-shopping for a mortgage or loan, use soft-search eligibility tools first and only submit a full application - which triggers a hard check - once you have chosen a product. If you must make several full applications, group them closely as some scoring models treat a cluster of similar searches more leniently. Who this affects: anyone applying for credit, renting, or even some mobile and utility contracts. 2026/27 note: credit checking is governed by lender and credit-reference-agency practice rather than tax law, so there are no statutory figures here. For affordability planning before any application, use a mortgage or savings calculator to model the borrowing or deposit you actually need.

Try the calculator